*This coral was actually composed by the remains of polyps, and their skeletons. *Polyps are small ocean animals. *They gather underwater on hard surfaces, and combine the lime in seawater (which is warm) with carbon dioxide; found in their bodies, which thus forms coral, or a hard lime-stone like texture. *This process usually takes around 20-30 million years.
Picture of the Fossil
Florida State Fossil - Coral
Time Existed
*This existed 30-40 million years ago. *That time period was when Florida was part of the continental shelf. *The oceans were filled with various different small organisms that contributed to the surfacing of coral. *These oceans and seas were vast.
Preservation
*The coral had been preserved because it was created by sea life. *The silica in the ocean water replaced the lime in the coral, producing quartz mineral which preserved the coral, and changed it to a chalcedony; which furthermore resulted in pseudomorph forming.
Who Found this Fossil/Why is it the State Fossil
*The founder of this fossil is not know, although these fossils can be found in the areas of Tampa Bay, the Econfina River, and the Withlacoochee/Suwannee River beds. *This is the state fossil because millions of years in the past florida used to be surrounded by vast oceans which harbored the polyps which produced these types of coral. *This fossil is recognized as being special because it went through a long process of pseudomorph, which exchanged the current minerals in it with ones inside the ocean and environment surrounding.
Florida- By Alicja (Lily) Fisher- Period 2.
Name of the Fossil
*Cnidaria anthozoaDescription of the Organism
*This coral was actually composed by the remains of polyps, and their skeletons.*Polyps are small ocean animals.
*They gather underwater on hard surfaces, and combine the lime in seawater (which is warm) with carbon dioxide; found in their bodies, which thus forms coral, or a hard lime-stone like texture.
*This process usually takes around 20-30 million years.
Picture of the Fossil
Time Existed
*This existed 30-40 million years ago.*That time period was when Florida was part of the continental shelf.
*The oceans were filled with various different small organisms that contributed to the surfacing of coral.
*These oceans and seas were vast.
Preservation
*The coral had been preserved because it was created by sea life.*The silica in the ocean water replaced the lime in the coral, producing quartz mineral which preserved the coral, and changed it to a chalcedony; which furthermore resulted in
pseudomorph forming.
Who Found this Fossil/Why is it the State Fossil
*The founder of this fossil is not know, although these fossils can be found in the areas of Tampa Bay, the Econfina River, and the Withlacoochee/Suwannee River beds.*This is the state fossil because millions of years in the past florida used to be surrounded by vast oceans which harbored the polyps which produced these types of coral.
*This fossil is recognized as being special because it went through a long process of pseudomorph, which exchanged the current minerals in it with ones inside the ocean and environment surrounding.
Sources
*Web marketing services. (2004-2011). Florida State Fossil. e-RefernceDesk. Retrieved fromhttp://www.e-referencedesk.com/resources/state-fossil/florida.html